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Flashback: Obama Blamed Bush’s Foreign Policy For American Deaths In 2008

Sep. 13, 2012 10:37am Benny Johnson

Flashback: Obama Criticized McCain/Bush for Troop Deaths

(AP)

In many speeches and interviews leading up to his presidency, then-Senator Barack Obama regularly used the death toll resulting from America’s Middle East engagements as a campaign talking point. Why does that matter? Because the president’s campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt accused Romney of making a “political attack” as America was “confronting the tragic death of one of our diplomatic officers in Libya.”

Consider Obama’s past Op Ed for the New York Times:

“I believed it was a grave mistake to allow ourselves to be distracted from the fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban by invading a country that posed no imminent threat and had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks. Since then, more than 4,000 Americans have died”

Senator Barack Obama

July 14, 2008

And his speech on Iraq in March of 2008 :

“Nearly four thousand Americans have given their lives. Thousands more have been wounded.”

Candidate Obama even brought the death toll up in the 2008 presidential debates:

Wednesday was a different story, however. The President severely criticized Mitt Romney for attacking the Obama administration’s response to the attacks. The media was right behind.

Pundits called Romney’s criticism of the President in the aftermath of the attack “craven” and a “Lehman moment,” alluding to Senator John McCain’s fumbled handling of the collapse of Lehman Brothers. MSNBC anchor Andrea Mitchell berated a Romney spokesperson over the politicizing of American deaths, asking bluntly: ”Does it seem to be injecting politics into a national tragedy?”

FoxNews has hit back, writing on their website:

“This was an effort — not entirely conscious — to make it illegitimate for Romney to criticize the president’s foreign policy at a moment when foreign policy has suddenly taken center stage. But that’s exactly when such a debate should take place — because it’s when the public will actually pay attention.”

The point, particularly given the Presidents own double standard, is a good one.

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Comments (63)

blackyb
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 12:17pm
One thing about it. Bush was a REAL President, good or bad.

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- lovenfl3
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 12:28pm
  And Bush also has shown how much more class he has then the man-child President we have today. While I have a big problem with the amount of money Bush spent, he has shown a sharp contrast between himself and Obama when it comes to maturity.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGYIgfdEA-M
  
  Report this comment
- 1947
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 12:46pm
  Obama’s taking down tyhe Military better then CLINTON
  
  Report this comment
- JRook
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 2:09pm
  Benny, nice try at a diversion but let’s focus on how idiotic and petty Romney has looked through this. Did go to blaze U for his foreign policy training. LOL And let’s keep in mind Bush apologized for anti-Muslim activities on several occasions.
  
  Report this comment
- JRook
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 2:39pm
  Since then, more than 4,000 Americans have died… So do they train you in not understanding context benny or does it come naturally. The statement refers to the lives lost in the Iraq war up to that point which were of course wasted, as the mission had no honor. Normally I would say such misuse of context would be an insult to your readers…. but clearly their ideological filters would have removed the correct context anyway. Feed the angry mob…… Agenda Trumps Truth.
  
  Report this comment
- HKS
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 3:11pm
  This guy Obama just got us attacked on four fronts at the same time and he thinks its a protest of a movie. He’s in a war and don’t even know it , Yet.
  
  Report this comment
- sillyfreshness
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 4:24pm
  And yet our “chosen people” controlled Marxist Media sweeps this all under the rug and covers it up like it never happened. It doesn’t fit in with their agenda. We have a media that is a co-conspirator in this communistic coup taking place. The Marxist Media will do whatever it takes to protect this president.
  
  Report this comment
OniKaze
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:58am
Whose that man on the left side of the picture sitting partially covered by the President (and by President, I mean Teleprompter)???

He looks so pleased to be sitting there in a woman’s outfit listening to the Vacationer-in-Chief….

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abbygirl1994
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:54am
Wow.. only 70% of those lost in the Afghanistan war have been under Obama’s watch.. as usual.. Obama opens mouth to insert foot.. maybe in this case both feet. Its called Karma!! That he would condemn Bush only for it to come back and bite him on the keester only shows his ineptness.. It isn’t easy being President is it! Vote Romney/Ryan in 2012!! Its time to steer this ship before we have another Titaniic!

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johnjamison
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:43am
Damn Obama is everything and more he accused Bush of,
He’s more than twice as unpatriotic since has spend more than twice what Bush did
He hates the middle class since he passed the largest middleclass tax hike in U.S. HISTORY under Obamacare
He’s a twice the war criminal as he uses unman drones to kill innocent civilians in countries we aren’t at war with.
He 100 times the most corrupt with his cronies capitalism using stimulus tax dollars to pay his campaign contributors,using stimulus dollars to back unions, assuring the investors get their capital back before the tax payers,using the DOJ AS HIS OWN PERSONAL ARM OF THE LAW TO ATTACK ANYONE WHO DARES QUESTION HIS AGENDA. AND That’s just the tip of the OBAMABERG

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Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:36am
First of all – THE DEMOCRATS Hollered for Bush to ‘do something’ and then voted nearly unanimously to goo into Iraq. It was Pelosi, reid. clinton, kennedy, and other alinsky radicals who used WMD early and often. Obama abstained and then ran on that. yet goes in and does the same thing, including drone strikes which Bush was demonized for as well.
Flashback: They all were ‘for it before they were against it’, and it was B. Clintons mess to begin with, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSwSDvgw5Uc

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Meyvn
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:35am
Hmm. What comes around goes around. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Man up Obama, that is, if you are capable.

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- floridareader
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 1:57pm
  Every single word he has said in the past criticizing George W. Bush has come back to haunt him.
  
  Report this comment
- GaryInTheMiddle
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 2:14pm
  Don’t you love the smell of karma in the afternoon.
  
  Report this comment
DimmuBorgir
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:20am
had they found just the skeleton of the new species we’d be hearing about a new “missing link” discovery that “proves” evolution

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- Ghandi was a Republican
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:37am
  Yep– They worship that mystical man-ape who’s one true miracle was wiping all trace of it’s existence from the Earth.
  
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HKS
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:18am
Looks like Obama’s “kiss butt” foreign policy has some flaws, like “U B da chump sucka “.

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- bannedfromCNN
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:47am
  Maybe Soetoro will consult wif Pit Bull on foreign policy while he’s in Vegas.
  
  Report this comment
spfoam1
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:12am
The Obama administration has been sowing the seeds of Islamic hatred since they came to power. They have sacrificed our ambassador and staff for their progressive objectives. They are creating a horrible crisis. Hillary fanned the flames of violent jihad once again, minutes ago, by mentioning how disgusting that low budget film is. Why mention it yet again unless she wants even more violence? Obama, Hillary, and this entire administration are the enemy within.

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- loriann12
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 1:45pm
  My first thought was what did that ambassador know? It is getting close to election.
  
  Report this comment
F_This
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:11am
This is why the ultra liberal MSM need to be defeated, shut down, annihilated. The American people deserve to know the truth about our government whether good or bad.

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Chromo200
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:09am
But he has learned so much since he became president. Hah .. he has become a better flim flam man with the help of Axelrod and his crew.

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ricckky
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:05am
Keep this piece of crap off my computer!!!! Hurry Nov.

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Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:05am
Sweet!!! So Owebama will be stepping down for arming the thugs that killed our guys? Wait, shouldn’t he have already done so for Fast and Furious?

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encinom
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:03am
Becky-poo and the Blaze loves to compare apples and oranges to protect Mittesn and Lyin’ Ryan from the truth.

Obama’s commenting about the lives Bush wasted in his needless war against Iraq is not the same as Mitten’s attempt to score political points while a crisis is occurring and the Commander in Chief is leading. Mitten’s is proving that he is not ready for prime time.
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- BODYBAG
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:07am
  Everyone’s favorite DemTroll is back.
  You’re an idiot.
  
  Report this comment
- Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:09am
  I think you’re stretching there.
  
  “a country that posed no imminent threat and had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks”
  
  So financing and arming and sending in CIA advisers to Egypt and Libya doesn’t fit that bill. We flew sorties over Libya and conducted warfare operations. Is/was Libya a “threat” to us? (Secret: economically yes, but we don’t talk about those things). HE gave the weapons and power to the people that killed our diplomats. The government that HE created refused to protect our diplomats.
  
  Nation building is nation building whether it is Iraq or Libya or Egypt.
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:12am
  ENCINOM, I was wondering when you would repeat a statement from the other day again. You know, the one where you said that you are an American Patriot. Here’s your chance to openly illustrate that patriotism now. But, I already realize that we will only read some rationalized excuses.
  
  Report this comment
- 2AFirearmsDealerDotCom
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:20am
  Hey all, please stop feeding the trolls….
  
  Report this comment
- Morningglory
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 1:11pm
  You people are such HYPOCRITES! On July 13, 2008, the VERY day we lost 9 servicemen in an Afghan attack, Presidential candidate Barack Obama criticized President Bush on his foreign policy in the region. Give me a break! I don’t have a problem with Presidential candidates commenting on what is happening because they are running for the Office of the Presidency. We want to know how they would handle it. But for the Obama campaign and the White House to criticize Romney for exactly what they did in 2008 is dispicable and totally hypocritical!!!!
  
  Report this comment
- encinom
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 3:48pm
  @Morningglory
  Poor, poor tea ******, blinded by the truth you willingly accept the lies of Becky-poo. The is a world of difference, context matters. Romney is acting like the desperate candidate he he is, his poll numbers are sinking faster than the Titanic, so now her attacks the commander and chief, during a crisis. Romney is lost cause and the rats are jumping ship.
  
  Report this comment
thibx
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:01am
just wait the way thing are going under oboma the muslims in this country will storm the white house and burn it down and he will apologize to them.

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- johnjamison
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:12am
  You joke but look at Flint Mich. where Christians and Catholic are under constant aasault by Islam. Where Muslims actually stoned Christian extremist for practicing what is their Constitutional rights and WHAT DID THE POLICE DO CART THE CHRISTIAN AWAY TELLING THEM THAT THEY CAN’T PROTECT THEM FROM THE MUSLIMS.
  
  Report this comment
perry1980
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 10:58am
Dems Playbook:

1. Blame Bush
2. Cry R@cism.
3. Repeat steps 1 & 2 as often as necessary.

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- Gonzo
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:02am
  Step 4: Repeat the word ‘extreme’ as often as possible when talking about Republicans.
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:06am
  PERRY1980, If 0bama is good at anything, it is his ability to delegate blame. And, he has the bulk of the media to back him up on it.
  
  Report this comment
watersRpeople
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 10:57am
What, “You don’t trust me?” MOMMY, he doesn’t trust me, I’m not talking to him.

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WillG
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 10:55am
Lord God, lets hope so Detroit!

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2SENSEWORTH
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 10:53am
This guy’s words come out of every orifice in his body.

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Detroit paperboy
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 10:52am
I’m sure the Democrat Media will be pointing out this hypocrisy by Odumbass……….tsk tsk tsk…

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- johnjamison
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:04am
  yeah right, The main stream media couldn’t be objective with Obama if their jobs depend it. Just look at how they let their ratings tanks to keep spewing liberal propaganda.
  
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BODYBAG
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 10:51am
The past 2 administrations have made the absurd argument that “we are not at war with islam”.
Sure doesnt look that way from here. Never has.

http://www.aljazeera.com/video/middleeast/2012/09/20129130543708779.html

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/13/us-iraq-usa-threat-idUSBRE88C0CK20120913

“In Baghdad, hundreds of protesters gathered in Sadr’s stronghold of Sadr City, holding up posters
of Sadr, burning U.S. flags and chanting, “Death to America. ”

“We have to fire the U.S. ambassador because these things are carried out under U.S. supervision
and are aimed at offending Islam and Muslims,” protester Yaarab al-Mohammadawi told Reuters.”

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- BODYBAG
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:02am
  The proof of this is the deafening silence from the “Muslim world”.
  
  If some lunatics committed an unspeakable atrocity in the name of Christianity, you’d
  see Christians worldwide condemning it with overwhelming volume.
  
  Again, from the Islamic world – Silence.
  
  Report this comment
watersRpeople
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 10:50am
You mean to tell me that there’s people who stop talking to the people who say “I don’t trust him” about those people? Doesn’t seem very forgiving, and in fact it seems kind of arrogant. I would think they would dialog to find out why someone doesn’t trust them. How many people here stop talking to a person, a coworker, or a neighbor down the street just because they said they don’t trust you? Especially if they put it in the context of they don’t trust any neighbors?

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Gonzo
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 10:50am
There is no excuse for any US embassy to be inadequately protected, especially in Muslim lands…especially on 9-11. A truck or car bomb is one thing, but being overrun by a mob is inexcusable.

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:10am
  GONZO, The state department was warned by intelligence personnel that something was about to happen. Not only that, this was the first time since 9-11-01 that the embassies and consulates in the mid east have not had their security beefed up. Sounds election year based suspicious to me. Still don’t see the expected outcome yet. But, the White House and Hillary made these four men disposable for a reason.
  
  Report this comment
- SUNTZU
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:16am
  Good morning Ted
  Yes ,Excuse;Progressives,and the uneducated
  fools that vote for them
  
  Report this comment
- chips1
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:25am
  Obama spends American lives as if it was just money. The Feds print more dollars and women produce more American targets. It’s what he does best.
  
  Report this comment
RLTW
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 10:46am
Hypocrisy thy name is Obama

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- Gonzo
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 10:56am
  …and his first name is arrogance.
  
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- encinom
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:04am
  Nah, that is Mitten’s name. Obama is leading, Romney is sniping from behind.
  
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- bannedfromCNN
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:49am
  “Enemacom” – your boy hasn’t spoken out about the Chicago teacher strike…but, he was quick to comment about Trayvon and the incident in Boston, wasn’t he? 6 more weeks, and we will flush this Kot.
  
  Report this comment
- Scarybones
  Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:54am
  Encinom, leading what? If he were leading then our embassies would have had tight security on 9/11. If he were leading then the Egyptians would have been present and guarding our embassy from the outside since they did know about the protests for over a week. He is leading in the number of missed security briefings, celebrity fundraisers and days on the links. If that is what you think is important then you have some pretty low standards, but we already knew that, didn’t we?
  
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Detroit paperboy
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 10:42am
This turd is about to be fired…………………………….

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